Microsoft Introduces Copilot Checkout and Brand Agent, AI-Based Shopping Assistant

Copilot Checkout view (photo: Microsoft)

Microsoft has introduced two new capabilities in its artificial intelligence (AI) assistant Copilot, amid the increasingly sophisticated development of AI every day.

First, Microsoft is introducing Copilot Checkout which will come as a user shopping assistant, to make it easier for you to find product recommendations, compare them with others, to the payment process.

Copilot Checkout is starting to be launched in the US through Copilot.com, with partner activation through PayPal, Shopify, and Stripe.

Microsoft said there would be more retailers coming on board throughout the month. The company said it had worked with Mastercard and Visa to leverage solutions such as Mastercard Agent Pay and Visa Intelligent Commerce.

"With Copilot Checkout, you remain a registered merchant. You have transactions, customer data, and the relationship," the company wrote in its official announcement.

The second feature that is present in Copilot is Brand Agent, an AI-based shopping assistant designed to provide an experience similar to being served by a store employee directly on a brand's website.

Unlike conventional chatbots, Brand Agents are able to communicate using the brand's language style and identity, while guiding customers from the exploration stage to the purchase decision.

"They meet buyers where they are, help them explore and intentionally steer them to buy," Microsoft said.

Through an easy-to-understand dashboard, merchants can monitor key metrics such as engagement rates, conversion increases, average order value, and compare the performance of shopping sessions assisted by Brand Agents to organic traffic.

This insight allows businesses to optimize strategies, understand buyer behavior in more depth, and drive growth in a measurable way. Currently, Brand Agents are available for merchants on Shopify.